New junior golf tournament kicks off in Rockford

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Children from around Rockford and the world gathered to show off their golf skills in the U.S. Kids Rockford Tour.

“We’ve traveled all over the place playing in us kids events, you know, we get tired of driving so We started working on trying to get U.S. kids here,” said U.S. Kids Golf Tour Rockford Organizer Jacqui Schroeder.

Schroeder brought the U.S. Kids Golf Tour to Rockford for hundreds of children to play around the stateline, including her two kids.

All participants are pursuing championship glory.

They’re all trying to get to Pinehurst. That’s what it’s about,” Schroeder continued. The world championships in Pinehurst, regionals, states and all those in between. For them, this is their road to Pinehurst, to the world championships.”

That journey for glory brings golfers from across the world to Rockford, including 12-year-old Thailand native Punyssa Sirisak.

“I’m so excited. I’m [going] to a golf camp in Connecticut,” said Sirisak. “So, like, I just visit here to play.”

Schroeder said it’s all to get children ready to compete at a high level.

“The sport itself is a wonderful thing,” Schroeder continued. “Just to get more kids interested, involved, competing and getting them up that ladder [to take] those first few steps. That’s what U.S. kids is about, is getting them started.”